Golden Retriever Separation Anxiety: Causes & Treatment

To determine whether your dog has separation anxiety, evaluate the extent of adverse reactions and your dog’s life experiences.

Like any mental disorder, separation anxiety always has a cause, be it lack of socialization, abuse, hyper-attachment, or change in the living environment.

Your dog cannot communicate its feelings, so your responsibility is to identify the issue before it escalates and help your pet feel better.

What Is Golden Retriever Separation Anxiety?

To understand what golden retriever separation anxiety is, we should first determine what canine anxiety is in general. Anxiety in dogs isn’t much different from anxiety in humans, although it has different symptoms.

An anxious dog experiences uneasiness, discomfort, fear, and stress when exposed to anxiety triggers.

Perhaps, you’ve felt anxious at least once in your life – for instance, when performing in front of an audience or getting acquainted with your partner’s parents.

Dogs, too, can feel anxious in various situations. Sometimes, such a reaction is natural – when visiting a vet, on a road trip, or encountering an aggressive dog in the park. Still, the anxiety degree should be adequate.

Problems arise when anxiety becomes persistent. Some dogs suffer from generalized anxiety, feeling discomfort non-stop. Other dogs with an anxiety disorder may feel it in specific situations.

Separation anxiety belongs to the situational anxiety type. It occurs in dogs that are over-attached to their owners. Whenever the owner is away, the dog experiences anxiety.

A dog suffering from separation anxiety may be friendly, outgoing, and joyful in everyday life but transform into crying and yawning destruction machine as soon as it stays home alone.

Missing the owner is natural for dogs, but dogs with separation anxiety typically develop severe symptoms within 15 to 20 minutes of the owner’s departure.

Sometimes, dogs with separation anxiety additionally develop an obsessive-compulsive disorder as a coping mechanism.

Do Golden Retrievers Often Suffer From Separation Anxiety?

Golden retrievers are fearless, confident, joyful dogs, so anxiety certainly isn’t something one would expect from a golden. However, golden retrievers are one of the dog breeds prone to separation anxiety.

When you think more about golden retriever temperament, proneness to separation anxiety doesn’t seem as surprising.

These dogs are incredibly affectionate and loyal. They quickly bond with their owner and suffer whenever their favorite human isn’t around.

Every golden retriever misses its owner when they aren’t together, but separation anxiety is more serious. It is characterized by hyper-attachment and a complete inability to stay alone.

Golden retrievers are also highly energetic, which worsens the anxiety symptoms, causing the dog to engage in destructive behavior. When buying a golden retriever, separation anxiety is something to keep in mind.

Although it doesn’t affect each golden retriever, these dogs need much attention and care. They aren’t suitable for people who are never home and are unwilling to share affection.

Separation Anxiety Symptoms

Overall, the symptoms of separation anxiety in golden retrievers are similar to the signs of ordinary anxiety. The primary difference is that they only occur when the owner isn’t home.

Sometimes, owners only suspect their dog has separation anxiety because of its frantic reaction to their return home. A dog may be overly clingy, jump on the owner despite being trained not to do so, and pant excessively.

If you aren’t sure whether your dog has separation anxiety or is simply excited to see you, consider installing a camera at home. Alternatively, you may ask someone to stay with your dog and watch its behavior.

Some dogs display separation anxiety symptoms only when they’re entirely alone at home, while others may suffer whenever the owner isn’t close despite being surrounded by other people.

In other cases, owners discover their dog’s anxiety from neighbor complaints because golden retrievers with this condition may cry for hours and bark excessively.

Another reason to suspect separation anxiety in your dog is remodeling. Golden retrievers with separation anxiety may move furniture, tip over objects, and throw cushions and clothes on the floor.

Other symptoms of canine separation anxiety include excessive drooling and licking, panting, pacing, digging, chewing on objects, and trying to escape. In severe cases, a dog may have potty accidents.

Some dogs with separation anxiety appear lethargic and reluctant to move and drink when alone, while others may become restless.

Note that a dog with separation anxiety may not display all the symptoms, but one symptom is not sufficient for a diagnosis.

For example, panting may indicate respiratory conditions, and linking a particular body part may signal physical pain.

If left untreated, the disorder may escalate into aggression and destructive behavior, so don’t take the situation lightly, even if the symptoms are mild.

Separation Anxiety Causes

Canine separation anxiety causes include lack of socialization, personality peculiarities, genetics, traumatic experiences, or under-stimulation.

Socializing puppies is vital, but some breeders neglect it. A puppy that grew up sheltered and was never exposed to unfamiliar environments or people may grow up anxious about social interactions and overly attached to its owner.

Such dogs are typically scared to encounter new people or animals and follow their owners around. They may be clingy and hyper-affectionate.

The good news is that separation anxiety caused by a lack of socialization can be resolved relatively easily.

Separation anxiety is common in puppies too early weaned from their mothers. Responsible breeders only sell puppies after they are eight weeks old.

If a puppy’s parents are anxious, it is more likely to inherit this personality trait. However, some puppies are born anxious and hyper-affectionate without prerequisites.

Golden retrievers are energetic dogs that need plenty of exercise. Without sufficient mental and physical stimulation, a dog may display separation anxiety symptoms.

But in this case, anxiety is triggered by boredom rather than hyper-attachment to the owner.

The worst scenario is separation anxiety caused by a traumatic experience. Dogs that were previously left alone for days without food or abandoned by their favorite person may be anxious about staying alone for their lifetime.

Sometimes, a change in residence can also trigger separation anxiety. A dog may feel uncomfortable in a new environment without its owner.

The sudden absence of a particular family member due to death or moving away is another potential trigger of separation anxiety.

Separation Anxiety Treatment

The first step in treating canine separation anxiety is understanding its cause. Some dogs require professional help, and attempts to deal with the issue at home may only worsen the situation.

Thankfully, in many cases, owners can comfort their pets without the help of a canine behavioral specialist.

The goal is to provide the dog with environmental enrichment, encourage socialization, and minimize disturbances.

An entertained dog is less likely to suffer from separation anxiety, so leave your dog plenty of toys. Consider chew toys if your dog becomes mouthy when left alone and puzzle toys for mental stimulation.

Ideally, your dog should have a special toy it only gets when you aren’t home. As soon as you come back, take away the toy and put it out of the dog’s reach.

Take your dog for a long walk before leaving home to tire it and minimize the risks of potty accidents. Reduce exposure to potential triggers such as people passing by the window or loud noises from the street.

When you’re leaving, distract your dog with a toy, and don’t get ready for too long or jingle the keys.

You should go quickly and naturally as if nothing has happened. When returning, don’t act like you haven’t seen your dog in ages – stay calm.

If your golden retriever can’t be left alone despite your efforts, hire a dog sitter or ask someone from your family to assist you. Seek the help of a canine behavioral specialist to avoid worsening the situation.

Never punish your dog for destroying your furniture, barking, and other anxiety symptoms. Destructive behavior may be frustrating, but you should be understanding. Your dog isn’t causing your trouble out of spite.

Punishment will only worsen the symptoms because your dog will feel betrayed. Your objective is to ensure your dog’s emotional well-being.

To Crate Or Not To Crate?

Crating can be either a lifesaver for dogs with separation anxiety or have the opposite effect. Some dogs feel calm and secure when crated, whereas others may hate to be restrained and only become more anxious.

Sometimes, crating is the only way to prevent a dog from destroying the home. But before leaving your dog in a crate for the entire day, you should get it accustomed to the crate.

Ideally, you should start the crate training while your dog is still a puppy. The crate should be large enough for your dog to move freely.

Put your dog’s favorite toys, your worn T-shirt, or other comforting items inside. Remember that crate should serve as a safe space for your dog and not a prison.

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